Ukrainian tried to hijack Kharkiv-Istanbul plane to fly to Sochi

(QHA) -

A Ukrainian national has attempted to hijack an aircraft on a regular flight from Kharkiv to Istanbul in order to change its route for Sochi (Russia), the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported.

"Kharkiv-Istanbul airliner made an emergency landing at Istanbul airport in connection with the incident which occurred on board. According to preliminary information of the Turkish authorities, a Ukrainian citizen attempted to force the crew to head the aircraft to Sochi," director of the Foreign Ministry's information policy department Yevhen Perebyinis told Interfax -Ukraine.

As reported, the hijacker was drunk.

The plane did not change its course and landed in Istanbul as expected, the SBU reported.